Extern Program

Overview

An externship is a one-week mentored job-shadowing experience that offers a glimpse into a career. Students have a chance to see the inside of a career field for a short time, meet with professionals in the workplace, and make other contacts by living with alumni families. Swarthmore alumni have an opportunity to meet current students and learn about campus life today. Swarthmore alumni, parents of students, and friends of the College offer externships in a variety of cities and industries. Extern Week runs the last week of Winter Break and all externships are unpaid. To help make externships affordable, some alumni offer housing for that week. However transportation and meals are the student's responsibility, although some hosts will offer a few meals.

Parents/Families: How to get involved

Parents and families can get involved and serve as workplace, homestay mentors, or both! Learn more!

If you're interested in being a workplace and/or homestay mentor, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page.

Parents/Families: Sign up to receive the registration email in early September.

If you are experiencing difficulty accessing information on this site due to a disability, or if you have questions or concerns regarding the accessibility of content on this site, please tell us about the issue so we can assist.